8
SINDH UNIVERSITY RESEARCH JOURNAL (SCIENCE SERIES) Petrographic Studies of the Vihowa Formation, Sulaiman Range, Pakistan: Implications for Provenance K. A. MIRANI, M. H. AGHEEM ++ *, S. H. SOLANGI*, H. DARS*, A. G. SAHITO* Pakistan Museum of Natural History, Islamabad, Pakistan Received 28 th January 2017 and Revised 17 th September 2017 1. INTRODUCTION The late to early Miocene rocks of Vihowa Formation are exposed in the middle part of the Zindapir anticline, eastern margin of Sulaiman Fold Belt, Middle Indus Basin (Fig. 1). The study area lies at lat. 30 0 32’ 16” N and long. 70 0 29’ 18” E at Barthi Village. The Vihowa Formation is comprised of medium to coarse grained sandstone, subordinate clay and siltstone, whereas in the study area the sandstone is thick and cross bedded. The sandstone is light to dark gray, yellowish gray, light brown, reddish brown, medium to coarse grained and subangular to subrounded. The sandstones are mostly porous, loose to compact and poorly sorted. The first name Siwalik-like sediments (early to late Miocene) was given to this formation and afterwards replaced with Vihowa Formation in Sulaiman Range by Hemphill and Kidwai (1973). They investigated lithological characteristics of Siwalik Group and reported vertebrate fossils. The type section was designated at Vihowa Rud east of Charwata Post. Kazmi and Abbasi (2008) measured this formation as 700 meters thick in type section Litra Nala and 430 meters thick in Chaudhwan Zam. Kidwell and Holland (2002) observed and described that the heterogeneous sediments of this formation accommodated in shallow marine environment by the fluctuation of sea level. The available literature review indicates that a little work on source has been done but no detailed petrographic studies have been carried out on this formation, especially in the context of source and provenance and so far, the main purpose of this paper is to provide petrographic information of the constituent sediments to interpret provenance and the nature of source rocks of Vihowa Formation. Fig. 1 Geological map of the study area (after Abu Bakar et al., 1964) 2. REGIONAL GEOLOGICAL SETTING It is now widely accepted that the detrital sediments of early Tertiary age, which have been deposited throughout the Indus basin are the result of collision between Indo-Pakistan and the Asian continental plates at about 50Ma (Garzanti et al., 1996). Abstract: The Vihowa Formation of late to early Miocene is investigated for mineral composition and petrographic characteristics to understand the provenance, diagenesis and depositional environments. Ten representative sandstone samples were collected from various lithological units for petrographic studies. Petrographic results show that the quartz is a major constituent; while the accessory minerals are chlorite, chamosite, palagonite, sphalerite, staurolite, aragonite, hypersthene, glaucophane, monazite, kyanite, epidote, olivine, rutile, illmenite, hematite, magnetite, zircon, tourmaline and garnet. The tourmaline and rutile showing an igneous source however, the presence of epidote, staurolite and garnet expresses a metamorphic source for studied sandstones. The sandstone is medium to coarse grained having grains dominantly from the meta-sedimentary rocks whereas minor amount of grains from igneous rocks is also observed. Monocrystalline quartz is present in sands derived either from gneiss or granitic rocks, but polycrystalline quartz are from slate and schist. The inclusion of mica and garnet within quartz is observed which indicates a metamorphic source. On the QFL triangular diagram the sandstone of Vihowa Formation is mainly sub-lithic arenite and partly quartz arenite. The Qm-P-K plots indicate that feldspar and quartz are from granitic rocks along with small amount from metamorphic and volcanic rocks. The provenance of sandstone indicates that sediments were mostly deposited by transitional recycled orogeny and mixed magmatic subduction complex. . Keywords: Vihowa Formation, Petrography, Provenance, depositional environments, Sulaiman Range ++ Corresponding author: [email protected]; 0092-3339401460 * Centre for Pure & Applied Geology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan http://doi.org/10.26692/sujo/2017.12.0068 Sindh Univ. Res. Jour. (Sci. Ser.) Vol.49 (004) 835-842 (2017)

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Page 1: 2017.12.0068 S INDH NIVERSITY OURNAL U RESEARCH J …

SINDH UNIVERSITY RESEARCH JOURNAL (SCIENCE SERIES)

Petrographic Studies of the Vihowa Formation, Sulaiman Range, Pakistan: Implications for Provenance

K. A. MIRANI, M. H. AGHEEM++*, S. H. SOLANGI*, H. DARS*, A. G. SAHITO*

Pakistan Museum of Natural History, Islamabad, Pakistan

Received 28th January 2017 and Revised 17th September 2017

1. INTRODUCTION

The late to early Miocene rocks of Vihowa

Formation are exposed in the middle part of the

Zindapir anticline, eastern margin of Sulaiman Fold

Belt, Middle Indus Basin (Fig. 1). The study area lies at

lat. 300 32’ 16” N and long. 700 29’ 18” E at Barthi

Village. The Vihowa Formation is comprised of

medium to coarse grained sandstone, subordinate clay

and siltstone, whereas in the study area the sandstone is

thick and cross bedded. The sandstone is light to dark

gray, yellowish gray, light brown, reddish brown,

medium to coarse grained and subangular to

subrounded. The sandstones are mostly porous, loose to

compact and poorly sorted. The first name Siwalik-like

sediments (early to late Miocene) was given to this

formation and afterwards replaced with Vihowa

Formation in Sulaiman Range by Hemphill and Kidwai

(1973). They investigated lithological characteristics of

Siwalik Group and reported vertebrate fossils. The type

section was designated at Vihowa Rud east of Charwata

Post. Kazmi and Abbasi (2008) measured this formation

as 700 meters thick in type section Litra Nala and 430

meters thick in Chaudhwan Zam. Kidwell and Holland

(2002) observed and described that the heterogeneous

sediments of this formation accommodated in shallow

marine environment by the fluctuation of sea level.

The available literature review indicates that a little

work on source has been done but no detailed

petrographic studies have been carried out on this

formation, especially in the context of source and

provenance and so far, the main purpose of this paper is

to provide petrographic information of the constituent

sediments to interpret provenance and the nature of

source rocks of Vihowa Formation.

Fig. 1 Geological map of the study area

(after Abu Bakar et al., 1964)

2. REGIONAL GEOLOGICAL SETTING

It is now widely accepted that the detrital

sediments of early Tertiary age, which have been

deposited throughout the Indus basin are the result of

collision between Indo-Pakistan and the Asian

continental plates at about 50Ma (Garzanti et al., 1996).

Abstract: The Vihowa Formation of late to early Miocene is investigated for mineral composition and petrographic characteristics to

understand the provenance, diagenesis and depositional environments. Ten representative sandstone samples were collected from various

lithological units for petrographic studies. Petrographic results show that the quartz is a major constituent; while the accessory minerals are

chlorite, chamosite, palagonite, sphalerite, staurolite, aragonite, hypersthene, glaucophane, monazite, kyanite, epidote, olivine, rutile,

illmenite, hematite, magnetite, zircon, tourmaline and garnet. The tourmaline and rutile showing an igneous source however, the presence of

epidote, staurolite and garnet expresses a metamorphic source for studied sandstones. The sandstone is medium to coarse grained having

grains dominantly from the meta-sedimentary rocks whereas minor amount of grains from igneous rocks is also observed. Monocrystalline

quartz is present in sands derived either from gneiss or granitic rocks, but polycrystalline quartz are from slate and schist. The inclusion of

mica and garnet within quartz is observed which indicates a metamorphic source. On the QFL triangular diagram the sandstone of Vihowa

Formation is mainly sub-lithic arenite and partly quartz arenite. The Qm-P-K plots indicate that feldspar and quartz are from granitic rocks

along with small amount from metamorphic and volcanic rocks. The provenance of sandstone indicates that sediments were mostly deposited

by transitional recycled orogeny and mixed magmatic subduction complex. .

Keywords: Vihowa Formation, Petrography, Provenance, depositional environments, Sulaiman Range

++Corresponding author: [email protected]; 0092-3339401460 *Centre for Pure & Applied Geology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan

http://doi.org/10.26692/sujo/2017.12.0068

Sindh Univ. Res. Jour. (Sci. Ser.) Vol.49 (004) 835-842 (2017)

Page 2: 2017.12.0068 S INDH NIVERSITY OURNAL U RESEARCH J …

Whereas, the Zhob thrust fault and Gazaband faults are

formed by the Himalayan-Hindu Kush collision

(Fig. 2), (after Hemphill and Kidwal, 1973). It is

generally accepted that the deposition of sediments of

Chitarwata Formation within Himalayan foreland basin

is the result of collision between India-Asia and eustatic

sea level changes (Clift et al., 2001) Moreover, the

sedimentation record of Himalayan foreland basin is

well preserved in the form of both Chitarwata and

Vihowa formations (Downing et al. 1993). Literature

review further shows that Vihowa Formation holds best

exposures of fluvio-deltaic sedimentation to represent

the southward progradation of Indus River system

(Qayyum et al., 2001). 300 m thick coastal facies of the

Vihowa Formation represents the best fluvio-deltaic

system in Zindapir area (Downing et al. 1993).

Fig. 2 Regional geological map showing the location of Sulaiman

Range and the surroundings

3. MATERIAL AND METHODS

During filed work ten sandstone samples were

collected from major facies of Vihowa Formation

exposed along Sakhi Sarwar section. Small rock chips

were cut and mounted on glass slides with resin to avoid

any loss during grinding and polishing. For further

binding of loose and friable particles the samples were

heated in an oven. The prepared thin sections were

studied under polarizing microscope for framework

grains, matrix and cement. With the help of visual

estimation charts of Terry and Chilingar, (1955) the

relative abundance was determined. The altered grains

were counted as original grains while the framework

grains were counted by using the method of Gazzi-

Dickinson to reduce the effect of grain size (Dickinson,

1970, Ingersoll et al., 1984). Depending on grain size;

greater than 300 points were counted in each section.

Depending on grain size, the grid spacing was

frequently changed to avoid the double counting of any

grain. For present study; the method of Dickinson

(1985) is followed for framework parameters that are

shown in Table 1. For classification of sandstone the

Folk (1980) scheme is followed and modal analysis data

is recalculated and shown in Table 2. To determine the

tectonic settings and provenance of sediments; the

ternary diagrams of Dickinson (1985) are used. For

further specific tectonic settings, all the used ternary

diagrams are further classified into diverse isolated

fields.

4. PETROGRAPHIC STUDIES AND

PROVENANCE

Ten sandstone samples were collected from various

lithological units/facies of the Vihowa Formation during

the field visit for microscopic studies. The framework

constituents were counted randomly following the

method of Dickinson (1970), Graham et al. (1976),

Ingersoll and Suczek (1979) and Dickinson (1985). The

petrographic studies were carried out to investigate

mineral composition, grain to grain contact relationship

and alteration of grains in sandstone of Vihowa

Formation. The results are presented in Tables 1, 2 3.

The major categories of grains identified during the

point counting include undulatory and non-undulatory

monocrystalline quartz, polycrystalline quartz,

sedimentary lithic, volcanic lithic, sedimentary-

metamorphic lithic grains and chert (Tables 1, 2, 3).

Heavy minerals such as rutile, ilmenite, hematite,

magnetite, zircon, tourmaline, garnet and mica are also

identified (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3. Microphotographs (XPL) of different sandstones of the

Vihowa Formation, (A) dark pink muscovite (Ms) flakes (B)

Secondary Gypsum (Gp) grains and veins (C) Euhedral and

corroded grain of feldspar (plagioclase) “F” with albite twinning

(D) and (E) Quartz (Q) grains (F) Mica (Mc) grains within the

sandstones

K. A. MIRANI et al., 836

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4.1 Petrography of Vihowa Formation

Sandstone types can be determined by the weight

percentage of quartz, feldspar and rock

fragments. Sukhtankar (2004) described depositional

environment and provenance of sandstones by studying

heavy minerals and rock fragments. There are various

schemes to classify the sandstones but here the

classification scheme of Pettijohn et al. (1987) has been

utilized. The re-calculated data is plotted on Q-F-L

triangular diagram (Fig. 4) which shows that nine

samples drop into the field of sub-lithic arenite; whereas

only one sample fall in quartz arenite field. Three types

of sandstones are identified on the basis of percentage

of detrital minerals and rock fragments which are

quartzarenite, sublithicarenite and lithicarenite.

Thin section study indicates that quartz is the main

component of sandstone of Vihowa Formation ranging

from 68 to 80% which includes both mono and

polycrystalline grains (Fig. 4, after Petijhon et al., 1987;

Tables 1, 2, 3). Monocrystalline quartz grains are

abundant as compared to polycrystalline grains. It is

observed that these grains have concavo-convex contact

with each other and some quartz grains are fractured. It

is general phenomenon that monocrystalline quartz are

dominantly present in sands/sandstones resulting from

granitic and gneissic rocks, while polycrystalline quartz

grains are found in those sandstones originally derived

from slate and schist (Tortosa et al., 1991). Inclusions of

mica and garnet are also found within quartz grains

which indicates metamorphic source. Young (1976)

pointed out that during metamorphism under the

influence of increasing pressure and temperature; the

monocrystalline quartz may be formed from

polycrystalline quartz. Moreover, the undulatory

extinction of quartz further indicates that the source

rocks are metamorphic in origin and have experienced a

lot of pressure. Sutured boundaries are very much clear

within the studied polycrystalline quartz. Muscovite

occurs as overgrowth on mono-crystalline quartz. The

feldspar ranges from 4 to 15% in studied sandstones

(Tables 1, 2, 3) and it was derived probably from

uplifted oceanic island-arc terrain that had been rare

source area in sedimentary record. In addition,

inclusions of zircon and tourmaline are also seen within

the feldspar grains.

Rock fragments are the main components, ranging

from 12 to 25% in sandstone. These are predominantly

chert, siltstone, limestone and schist with subordinate

shale and volcanic fragments. It is probable that these

fragments were derived from Cretaceous and Eocene of

Sulaiman belt. Micas are also associated with some of

these rock fragments and minerals. It is observed that

biotite is generally altered to chlorite. Flaky minerals

are mostly altered and therefore, the cleavage shape is

generally wavy and broken and somewhere completely

absent. Unidirectional flaky minerals indicate that the

speed of water flow current was very slow during the

deposition of Vihowa sandstone. The accessory

minerals include; chlorite, chamosite, palagonite,

sphalerite, staurolite, aragonite, hypersthene,

glaucophane, monazite, kyanite, epidote, olivine, rutile,

illmenite, hematite, magnetite, zircon, tourmaline and

garnet (Table 4). Such mineral assemblage indicates a

bimodal source of sediments: for example, staurolite,

garnet and epidote point out a metamorphic source

while the tourmaline and rutile pointing an igneous

source (Tucker, 2001). The sandstone is mainly

cemented by silica, ferruginous materials and minor

substitutes of clay, mud, and calcite. During study, it

was observed that quartz overgrowth is the most

common type of silica cement and is the product of

diagenesis. Along with other factors, it may also occur

due to pressure dissolution. Iron and calcite are

converted to ferrogeneous clay and mud by pressure

solution. Ferruginous pseudo-patches have been found

at some places. Reddish brown ring is developed on

surrounding of ferrugeneous grains by the reaction of

iron oxidized material and ferromagnesian materials.

Various sizes of light dirty reddish brown patches have

been observed due to alteration within iron-magnesium

and mud. The ferruginous pseudo-patches, iron oxide

and mud patches are found in cementing materials.

Grains are bounded by pseudo-matrix, ferruginous clay

and clay matrix.

Fig. 4 QFL diagram for the sandstone samples of Vihowa

Formation

Fig. 5 QtFL diagram for the provenance of sandstones of Vihowa

Formation.

Petrographic Studies of the Vihowa Formation… 837

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Table 1 Point counting data of sandstone samples of Vihowa Formation

Note: Key for petrographic and other parameters (after Dickinson 1985). (Qm un) Undulouse monocrystalline quartz, (Qm non) Non-undulouse

monocrystalline quartz, (Qpq) Polycrystalline quartz, (Ls) Sedimentary rock fragments, (Lv) Volcanic-metavolcanic rock fragments, (Lsm)

Metasedimentary rock fragments, (P) Plagioclase feldspar, (K) Potassium feldspar and (Cht) Chert

Table 2 Recalculated parameters through point counting used in various triangular diagrams for provenance of sandstones of Vihowa

Formation

Note: Key for petrographic and other parameters (after Dickinson 1985). (Qm) monocrystalline quartz, (Qp) Polycrystalline Quartzose (or

chalcedonic) lithic fragments, (Qt) Total quartzose grains, (F) Total feldspar grains, (Lt) Total siliciclastic lithic fragments, (L) Unstable

(siliciclastic) lithic fragments (Lv+ Ls+ Lsm), (Acc) Accessory minerals, (Cem-matx) Cementing materials and matrix.

Table 3 Percentage of various constituents of sandstones of the Vihowa Formation for plotting on the QFL diagram

Sample No. Quartz % Feldspar % Rock Fragments % Cementing Materials % Accessory Minerals %

VF ZPD-1

VF ZPD-2

VF ZPD-3

VF ZPD-4

VF ZPD-5

VF ZPD-6

VF ZPD-7

VF ZPD-8

VF ZPD-9

VF ZPD-10

72.72

58.04

69.34

71.32

68.80

63.69

68.57

68.51

69.23

65.49

01.94

04.89

02.18

02.20

05.50

05.35

05.71

05.55

05.59

05.26

18.18

25.87

13.86

15.44

15.59

13.69

12.85

16.04

17.48

19.29

06.49

07.69

12.40

10.29

10.09

11.30

11.42

07.40

06.99

08.18

0.64

03.49

02.18

0.73

0.00

05.95

01.42

02.46

0.69

01.75

S. No. Sample No Qm

un

Qm non Qpq Ls Lv Lsm P K Cht

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

VF ZPD-1

VF ZPD-2

VF ZPD-3

VF ZPD-4

VF ZPD-5

VF ZPD-6

VF ZPD-7

VF ZPD-8

VF ZPD-9

VF ZPD-10

14

10

15

21

17

24

20

16

22

18

20

11

24

11

13

21

15

19

10

23

75

60

55

63

45

61

58

72

66

70

12

20

09

16

14

11

15

19

09

18

06

10

07

04

01

08

02

06

09

10

10

07

03

01

02

04

01

01

07

05

02

04

01

02

06

08

07

07

01

04

01

03

02

01

00

01

01

02

03

04

03

02

01

02

00

01

03

04

01

02

Sample No. Qm Qp Qt Q F Lt L Acc Cem-matx

VF ZPD-1

VF ZPD-2

VF ZPD-3

VF ZPD-4

VF ZPD-5

VF ZPD-6

VF ZPD-7

VF ZPD-8

VF ZPD-9

VF ZPD-10

34

21

39

32

30

45

35

35

32

40

78

62

56

65

45

62

61

76

67

72

112

83

95

97

75

107

96

111

99

112

109

81

94

95

75

96

93

107

98

110

03

07

03

03

06

09

08

09

08

09

106

99

75

86

62

85

79

102

92

105

28

37

19

21

17

23

18

26

25

33

01

05

03

01

00

10

02

04

01

03

10

11

17

14

11

19

16

12

10

14

K. A. MIRANI et al., 838

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Table 4 Accessory minerals of the sandstone samples of the Vihowa Formation

Minerals VFZD

P-1

VFZDP

-2

VFZDP

-3

VFZDP

-4

VFZDP

-5

VFZDP

-6

VFZDP

-7

VFZDP

-8

VFZDP

-9

VFZDP

-10

Biotite 1.5 1.5 0.5 0.5 1.9 1 1.3 1.3 1.4 0.5

Muscovite 1.8 0.8 - 0.3 - 0.2 - - 0.4 -

Chlorite 0.2 0.1 - - - - - - - -

Chamosite 1 - - - - - 0.3 - - -

Palagonite 0.1 - - - - - 0.5 - 0.2 -

Sphalerite - - - - - - 0.05 - - -

Staurolite - 0.3 0.2 - - - - - - -

Aragonite 0.2 - 0.1 - - - 0.49 - - -

Hypersthene - - 0.2 - 0.1 - - - 0.3 -

Gypsum - - - - - - - 0.2 0.8 0.2

Glaucophan

e 1 - 0.5 - - 0.4 - - - -

Clay

minerals - 0.2 0.2 0.2 1 1 1.7 - - -

Monazite 1.5 - - 0.3 - - - - 0.3 0.1

Kyanite - 0.1 - - - - - 0.1 0.4 -

Epidote - 0.2 - - - - 0.3 - 0.2 -

Olivine 0.1 0.1 - - - - - 0.3 - -

Rutile - 0.1 0.6 - - 0.3 0.4 - 0.3 0.2

Illmenite - 0.3 - 0.4 - 0.8 0.2 0.2 0.1 --

Zircon - - 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.5 0.1 - 0.2 -

Tourmaline 0.3 - - 0.2 0.4 0.3 0.7 0.3 0.5 0.4

Garnet 0.2 0.3 1.2 - 1.3 1 0.96 0.6 0.6 0.6

Haematite 0.1 - - - - - - - - -

4.2 Provenance

Recalculated data of sandstone samples plotted on

Qt-F-L triangular diagram (after Dickinson and Suczek,

1979) indicate that all studied samples fall in the field of

recycled orogen (Fig. 5). Plot of Qm-F-Lt (after

Dickinson et al., 1983, 1985) (Fig. 6a) indicate that five

out of ten samples plot on lithic recycled while the

remaining five samples within the field of transitional

recycled. The Lm-Lv-Ls triangular diagram (after

Ingersoll and Suczek, 1979; Suczek and Ingersoll, 1985)

indicates mixed magmatic and subduction complex

(Fig. 6b). The Qm-P-K diagram (after Dickinson and

Suczek, 1979) indicates detrital modes of the mineral

grains alone and polycrystalline fragments only quartz

and feldspar grains. It is very clear from (Fig. 6c). (i.e.,

Qm-P-K diagram) that feldspar and quartz are originally

from granite with some input of metamorphic rocks and

volcanics. The Qm pole shows rising maturity for

detritus that is either recycled or has been derived from

the cratonic blocks of orogenic parts as is reported by

Dickinson and Suczek (1979) for the tectonic set up and

composition of sandstones. The cluster of samples is

very close to Qm pole which indicates that Vihowa

sandstones are highly matured and recycled. The Qp-

Lv-Ls plot (after Dickinson et al., 1983, 1985) shows

that two out of ten samples drop in the field of collision

orogeny source; however, one sample fall between the

boundary of collision orogeny and subduction complex

source whereas, eight samples fall within the subduction

complex source (Fig. 6d).

Petrographic Studies of the Vihowa Formation… 839

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Fig. 6 Compositional diagrams of sandstones of Vihowa Formation, (A) Qm-F-Lt shows that the samples plot in transitional recycled and

lithic recycled, (B) On Lm-Lv-Ls diagram, the samples plot in mixed magmatic arc and subduction complex, (C) Qm-P-K diagram

showing the detritus mode of grains, (D) Qp-Lv-Ls diagram showing the source of sediments

5. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The identified types of quartz grains indicate that

the source of Vihowa Formation is both metamorphic as

well as plutonic in origin. The high proportion of mono-

crystalline quartz of undulose and non-undulose nature

(Tables 1 & 2) indicates derivation of sediments of

Vihowa Formation is from a plutonic igneous source.

Such types of observations have been drawn by Blatt,

(1967) by studying the characteristics of quartz grains.

Gallala et al., (2009) described different sets of minerals

and on the basis of their presence mentioned the source

of sediments. In this regard, the observed minerals of

Vihowa Formation such as the rutile, zircon, staurolite,

and tourmaline points out that the source of sediments is

from the acidic igneous rocks. Along with quartz, the

lithic fragments of Vihowa Formation are meta-

sedimentary in origin. Moreover, the inclusions of mica

and garnet minerals within quartz grains are another

indication of metamorphic source. Nowadays, it is a

common mineralogical fact that during metamorphism

polycrystalline quartz are formed from monocrystalline

quartz because of increasing pressure and temperature.

Along with others; Tucker, (2001) also proposed a set of

heavy minerals, and on the basis of their presence or

absence, the source lithologies can be determined. He

mentioned that epidote, staurolite and garnet favour a

metamorphic source terrain while tourmaline and rutile

show an igneous source. The studied samples when

plotted on triangular diagrams such as the Qm-F-Lt and

Lm-Lv-Ls indicate transitional recycled, lithic reclyed

and mixed magmatic and subduction complex,

respectively (Fig 6a, b). The identified mineral

assemblages and their plotting within different

discrimination diagrams point out that both feldspar and

K. A. MIRANI et al., 840

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quartz are derived from granitoids with some input of

metamorphic and volcanic rocks. In terms of

provenance; the present findings are in agreement with

Garzanti et al., (1996); where they discussed the detrital

modes of Tertiary sandstones and mentioned that the

feldspathic modes belong to active Asian mainland,

whereas the sediments of quartz-arenitic are from

subducting Indo-Pakistan Plate. Moreover, Downing

and Goebel (1991) presented some details and pointed

out the source for detrital mode of both Chitarwata and

Vihowa formations. Their studies show that the detrital

mode for the Chitarwata Formation is from a northern

cratonic, however, the sediments of Vihowa Formation

are from recycled orogenic detrital mode. They studied

the sediments of above formations in the Dalana area of

Zindapir Dome. In this regard, the sandstones of Litra

and Chaudhwan formations fall in the typical setting of

collision orogeny and suture belts (Ahmed and Khan,

1991).

In the light of above discussion, it is concluded that

the sediments of the Vihowa Formation are derived

from the interior of a craton and then recycled to deposit

in present position. It is also probable that the rock

fragments of studied sandstone may have been

transported from Cretaceous Pab sandstone, exposed in

Sulaiman belt in the west.

6. ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The authors are very grateful to Dr. Syed Shahid

Hussain, Ex. Director General Pakistan Museum of

Natural History, Islamabad for his encouragement, help

and providing research facilities. Authors are also

grateful to Dr. Jamil Afzal, Deputy Chief Geologist in

OMV Exploration & Production Limited Islamabad

Pakistan for the review of manuscript, valuable

comments and preparation of the final draft of the

article. Mr. Hamid Dawood Ex-Curator, Pakistan

Museum of Natural History, Islamabad is acknowledged

for his ideas, support and discussion. Mr. Shan Haider

and Mr. Muhammad Imran are also thanked for their

support in paper setting, field assistance and in

laboratory work.

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